Automatic ribbon reverse



A. UTZ

Mach &, 1932.

AUTOMATIC R IBBON REVERSE Filed June 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet MAW Gttorucg March 8, 1932. A. UTZ

AUTOMATIC RIBBON REVERSE Filed June 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet lllllllllllnn Bunentor IIIIIIIIlI/IIIIIIIIIIILfill/11111111110i||| 'IIIIII'IIIIIII Gttowcg Patented Mar. 8, 1932 barren STATES PATENT orrrcs ANTHONY TUTZ, HA'BTEORD, I EONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR "5H0 .ROYAL EYBZEWRITER COM- Q PANY, TNQ, GE 'YOZRK, 'N. 'Y.,

A lOQBPQBAlIJlI-ON OF NEW YGRK AUTOMATIC RIBBON REVERSE ...Application filed June 4.2,

by ribbon projections whereby said interponen'ts are respectively moved to efl'ective positions. Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically returning the respective interponents to their "initial positions immediately following-the reversal of the ribbon travel. A further object-oi the invention lies in [the provision of ribbon operated means for moving the interponents to effective positions, which means includes a lost motion connection for permitting the ribbon to feed a short distance ,after either i'nterponent has been moved -to its effective position and before the travel of the .ribbon is actually reversed. Other objects Willibe apparent from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a ribbon mechanism showing the application of my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view thereof.

' Figure 3 is an 'end elevation.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the rib hon operated interponent mechanism, .and

Figure 5 is a detail top plan viewof one of the spools showingthe ribbon, ribbon guide, and ribbon projection.

Although I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings as being applied -.to a Royal portable typewriting machine, it will of course'be understood that my invention is applicable to other types of machines.

in the drawings, the frame A supportsithe usual type bar segment B, and connected to this segment are brackets ''C(] which supnort the spool cups D. Journ'aled on the brackets C are vertically disposed spool shafts 5 and 6, and mounted on the upper ends of these shafts are ribbon spools 7 and- 8,

1928. Serial No. 284,741.

respectivelypto which a ribbon 9 is-connected in the usual manner. Bearings 10-10 depend from the brackets C, and journaled on these hearings "is a driving shaft 11. Fixed on one end of the shaft 11 is a beveled gear 12 which is adapted to mesh with a beveled gear 13 fixed on the lower end of the spool shaft "5. FiXed-on' the other end-of-t he drivmgslush; L1 is abeveled gear 14 adapted to mesh with a beveled gear 1-5 fixed on the loweren'd -of the other spool shaft 6. The driving-shaft '11 intermittently rotated and is capable of being moved longitudinally so as to be connected with onset the spool shafts and disconnected trom the other. In order to rotate intermittently the driving shaft 11, eaid sha i' t is provided a ratchet Wheel 16 which is actuated by a pawl '17 pivoted as at 18 to a rocking frame The rocking frame 149 is in the nature of a universal frame and includes the universal bar pivot rodQO. The frame 19 is actuated in the usual manner from anyone of the key levers 21,0ne of such ikey levers only being shown.

Iinorder to move automatically the driving shaft 11 longitudinally in either direction so as to-conple and unoouplethe respective spool shafts and '6 whenever the ribbon travel roaches either end of its movement. :I have provided the "following mechanism Fixed do the driving shaft 11 are spaced grooved collars 22 and "23 respectively. Pivoted on the bracket C adjacent the col-=Iar22 is a bell crank "lever '24, :one arm 25 thereof engaging in a groove of said collar '22. Pivoted on the frame C adjacent the collar .23 is a bell crank lever 26 having an arm .27 engageable in the groove of said collar 23. A pair or actuating arms'Q-S and 29am ifixed to the universal bar pivot rod 20 so as to v actuating arms '28 and 29. Ribbon operating means are provided for alternately moving theinterponents 30 and 33 into the paths of the respective actuating arms 28' and 29,

whereby, upon depression of any key, either of said arms 28 and 29 will cause the effectively moved interponent to rock its asso-v ciated bell crank lever and thereby shift the driving shaft 11 longitudinally to uncouple and couple the respective spool shafts from and-to said-main driving shaft. For this purpose I have'provided a similar mechanism, and therefore the description of one only will be sufiicient.

Each of these ribbon operated mechanisms or means includes a ribbon guide 35 having an inclined sideopening 36 for permitting the insertion or withdrawal of the ribbon from the guide. The location of the opening 36 serves to retain the ribbon within the guide, The guide 35 is provided with a horizontal arm 37-which is formed with a longitudinal slot 38 for receiving a-screw 39 'mounted'on the frame (land forming a slid ing pivot for the guide. 'Pivotally mounted on the arm 37 opposite the guide 35 is a bell crank lever 40, and to one arm 41 of said lever vis pivotally connected a second bell crank lever 42. The horizontal arm 43 of the bell crank lever 40 and the horizontal arm 44 of the bell crankjlever 42 are connected'by a coil spring 45. The arm 41 of the lever 40 is provided with a stop shoulder 46 for enota'lly connected to the associated interponent Fixed to the ribbon-at each'end thereof is a projection-52 for actuating the ribbon guide 35 and consequently'the associated interponent. I In order to retain the driving shaft 11 in either of its extreme adjusted positions, l have provided-a spring detent or latch 53 which is pivoted-at one end, as at 54, to the bracket 0'. This latch is provided with spaced recesses 55'and 56 for alternately receiving a roller 57 mounted on an arm 58 hired to the bell crank lever 24. The detent or latch 53 is yieldablyretained'in engagement with the roller 57 by means of a coil spring 59, whichis connected. at one end to thecdetent and'at its other end to the bracket Y i In operation as'the ribbon becomes unwound from one spool, the projection 52 will engage the associated. ribbon guide 35 and cause said guide to hoe-moved in a straight line. This movement of the ribbon guide Will, through thelevers 40 and 42 and link 51, move the associated interponent into effective position, that is, in position to be en gaged by the associated actuating arm, whereby, upon a single stroke of any key, the actuating arm will directly engage the interponent and thereby oscillate the associated bell crank lever. This movement of the bell crank lever will shift the driving shaft lilongitudinally and thereby uncouple the driving conn ction between the driving shaft and the spool shaft of the spool which has just been wound, and couple the driving shaft with the other spool so as to cause the ribbon travel. to bereversed. This shifting movement of the drivingishaft l1 willfthr'ough the bell cranklever 24, causethe arm 58 to be oscil- .latedtofengageeither of the seats 55 or 56 of the detent53 so as to retain the driving shaft in its adjusted position. The interponents 30 and 33"are respectively provided with stop arms 60 and '61 which are adapted tolrespectively engage the sides of the actuating arms 28 and 29 andther'eby retain the operated interponent in efiective position. Just as soon as an interponentis moved to its effective position, the actuating arm will engage the same and immediately effect the ribb 'onwreverse. Should a continued movement be imparted to the ribbon guide afterthe interpon-ent has been moved to its efiective position, the loose connection formed by the piv oted levers 40 and 42, and the spring 45, will permit of the guide being thus moved without imparting any injury to the mechanism. After the ribbon has been reversed,-the spring 49 will not only function'to return the ribbon guide to its initial position, but will also function to return the interponent to its initial orineftective position.

I claim:. f a

, 1. A ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts, key operated means for intermittently rotating said driving shaft, a pair of levers for respectively" moving the driving shaft longit-udinally in opposite directions,.a pair of oscillator actuating arms, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the paths of movements of said actuating arms, and ribbon-c0ntrolled means associated with the respective spools for positively moving the interponents alternately into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms.

' 2. A ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shaft-s, key operated means for intermittently rotatand ribbon-controlled means associated with the respective spools for positively moving the interponents alternately positions for engagement by the respective actuating 8'. Ar-ibbon reversing mechanism for typewriters, comprising in combination spaced ribbonspoolshafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts, a ratche-t'mechanism for intermittently rotating said driving shaft and including a universal rocking frame, a pair of levers for respectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pairof oscillatory actuating arms fixed'to the universal rocking frame, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the path of movement of 'said actuating arms, and ribbon-controlled means associated with the respective spoolsfor positively moving the interponents alternately into positionfor engagement by the respec tive arms.

LLA ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shaft-s, a pair of grooved collars fixed to the driving shaft, a pair of bell-crank levers for respectively moving the driving shaft in opposite directions, each lever having one arm engageable inthe groove of one of said collars, a pair f oscillatory actuating arms, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the other arm of the bell-crank levers and normally disposed out of the path of move-- ment of said actuating arms, and ribbon-controlled means associated with the respective spools for positively moving the interponents alternately into positions for gagement by the respective arms.

V 5. A ribbon reversing mechanism for type- Writers comprising in. combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, longitudinally movable driving shaftnormally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts, icy: operated means for intermittently ro-' tating said driving shaft, apair of levers for respectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pair of oscillatory actuating arms movable in planes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the driving shaft, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the path of movement of said actuating arms, said interponents being movable in a plane at right angles to the general plane of oscillation of the actuating arms, and ribbon-controlled means associated with the respective spools for positively mov ing the interponents alternately into positions for engagement by the respective arms.

6. A ribbon re er-sing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable drivii'lg shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts, key operated means for intermittently rotating saiddriving shaft, a pair of levers for re spectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pair of oscillatory actuating arms, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the paths of movements of said actuating arms, and separate means operated by ribbon projections for positively moving the interponents alternately into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms.

7. A ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts, key operated means for in"ermittently rotating said driving shaft, a pair of levers for respectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pair of oscillatory actuating arms, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the paths of'movements of said actuating arms, and separate means operated by ribbon projections for positively moving the interponents alternately into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms, said ribbon operated means including constant but yielding connections which permit the travel of the ribbon after the engagement of the associated interponents and actuating arms. Y a

8. A ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from'the respective spool shafts, key operated means for intermittently rotating said driving shaft, a pair of lovers for respectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pair of oscillatory actuating arms, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the paths of movements of said actuating arms, and separate means operated by ribbon projections for positively moving the interponents alternately into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms, said ribbon operated means including means for automatically returning the associated interponent from the path of movement of the actuating arm to its' initial position subsequent to the ribbon 'travel'being reversed.

9. Aribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts,

key'operatedmeans for intermittently rotating-said driving shaft, a pair of levers for respectively moving the driving shaft longi- 'tudinallyinopposite directions, a pair of oscillatory actuating arms, a pair of inter- 'ponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normallydisposed out of the paths of movements of said actuating arms, and ribbon-controlled means associated with the 'respective spools for positively moving the interponents alternately into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms, each interponent having a stop arm adapted V for engagement with the side of the actuating arm'to limit the en ective movement of the interponent, said ribbon operatedmeans including constant but yielding connections which permit the travel of the ribbonafter the engagement of the assocrated interponents and'actua'tmg arms.

10. A ribbon reversing mechanismfor interpo'nents into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms, said ribbon-controlled means including a ribbon actuated lever, a link connecting the lever and the interponent, and a spring connected to the lever for normally retaining the interponent in ineffective position. v

11. A ribbon. reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts. key operated ineansfor intermittent- 1y rotating said driving shaft, a pair of levers for respectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pair of oscillatory actuating arms, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the paths of movements of said actuating arms, and separate means operated by ribbon PI'OjGC- trons for positively movmg the lnterponents alternately into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms, each of said separateribbon operated means including a ribbon guide movable by the ribbon projection, and a single spring'for retaining the guide and the associated interponent innormal position. i V

12. A ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising. in combination, spaced'ribbon spool shafts, a longitudinally movable driving shaft normally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool 'shafts,key operated means for intermittently rotating said driving shaft, a pair of levers for respectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pair ofoscillatory actuating arms, a pair of interponents' respectively pivoted on the levers and normally disposed out of the paths of movements of said actuating arms, ribboncontrolled means associated with the respective spools for positively moving" the interponents alternately in positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms, and a spring actuated latch cooperating with one'of the levers for retaining the driving shaft in either of its longitudinally adjusted positions. V v 13. Ribbon reversing mechanism for typewrit ingmachines including a "frame, a ribbon spool shaft, normally disconnected operating means therefor, a slidable ribbon guide actuated by a projection on the ribbon, and means for connecting the operating meansto the spool shaft upon'movement of theribbon guide including a key-lever operated vibratory part, a pivoted interponent located between'th'e vibratory part and the, operating'means and normally disposed out, of the path of movement ofsaid part, a bell crank lever 42 pivoted on the frame, a bell crank lever 40 pivoted on the ribbon guide and having one end pivotally connected to bell crank lever 42. a link connectingthe interponent and the bell crank leVer'lQ, and a spring connecting said levers for moving the interponent into the path of the vibratory part upon movement ofthe ribbon guide by the ribbon. V

.14. Ribbon reversing mechanism for type- Writing machines including'a frame, a ribbon spool shaft, normally disconnected operating means therefor, a slidable ribbon. guide actuated by a projection on the ribbon, and means for connecting the operating means to the spool shaft upon movement of the ribbon guide includin a-key-lever operated vibratory part, a pivoted interponent located between the vibratory part and the operating means and normally disposed out 7 of the path of movement of said part, a bell crank lever 42 pivoted on the frame, a bell crank lever 40 pivoted on the ribbon guide and having one end pivotally connected to bell crank lever 12, a link connecting the inl terponent andthe bell crank lever 42, a spring connecting said levers for moving the interponent into the path of the vibratory part upon movement of the ribbon guide by the ribbon, and a spring connected to the frame and to the bell crank lever 42 for returning the parts to their normal positions upon connection between spool shaft and the operating means therefor.

15. A ribbon reversing mechanism for typewriters comprising in combination, spaced ribbon spool shafts, a spool mounted on each spool shaft to rotate therewith, a longitudinally movable driving shaft nor mally connected to and disconnected from the respective spool shafts, key operated means for intermittently rotating said shaft, including an oscillatory shaft, a pair of levers for respectively moving the driving shaft longitudinally in opposite directions, a pair of'actuating arms fixed to said oscillatory shaft, a pair of interponents respectively pivoted 0n the levers and normally disposed out of the paths of movements of said actuating arms, and ribbon-controlled means associated with the respective spools for positively moving the interponents alternately into positions for engagements by the respective actuating arms.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ANTHONY UTZ. 

